frova



sept 6, 1932. G, FROVA 1,876,492

FRUIT FITTING MACHINE Sept. 6, 1932. G. FRovA FRUIT FITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 31, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 \b M wmlmw@ Q MM w@ on uprights or legs and representing-the base- Patented Sept. 6, 1932 GIOVANNI. FRQVA,

on MILAN, ITALYy rianne Piemme; MACHINE Application med Jaiiuafyfsi, 1930, Serin No. 424,964-, and in Italy February-11,1929. f

The present invention relates` toa fruit pitting machine.

The machine essentially comprisess:

(a) A trame, or a perforated plate, carried plate g supporting a shaft driven at the desired speed by a motor or manually (c) Oneor morefeccentrics',lorfone"or more cranks, fitted on the said shaft;`

the form of tongues ofthe kind disclosed` in my prior U. S.l Patent No. 1,698,477 :January 8, 1929. The tool portion on whichthe .pit gripping members are pivotedfarefixed to the vcarriage abovesaid, Whereas the portion `by Which the movementv of the said gripping p nienibersis operated is under the "direct or indirectcontrol of the 'abovesaid cams;

.(70) One or morereplaceableopen bottom tubes each arranged,-preferably vertically, in alignment With a corresponding pitextracting tool. 'fliegfruits to be :pitted -are placed? in each tube to form a c '0l1'1rnn,`the cross section of ythe tubes suiting'theV shape y of the fruits to be dealt With vandfbeing slightly in excess Vofthe fruit diameter;v

A Window oi'niedin thebottonifend of each tube` the bottom @g of 'theivindow being flush with the' tube'bottom vandthe window being symmetrically arranged in trent oi the ,pitfgripping-andfextracting teols. It is of such dimensionsias to allow the pieceof fruit,the pit. of which has been gripped by the said tools, to pass readily-out of the tube; f

{j} hopper arranged atythe top end'lof 'of'said portion;fa spiral spring actingfbetweenthe rear'end of the said stationary; porthe tubes, with thehopper bottom Iitted with holes coincidingWith the opening of; each tube. Vrlhis hopper is lled With the fruits that (o) Supports yfixed' to the said* base, for',

are to be dropped Vinto thetubesseithen by hand lor by a suitable ldevice Valready knoWn;`

f (le) @ne or more crossbars carried from the vabovesaid base-plate and` parallel,y to the alignedtubes, as Welles to the pit-grippingand-extractingvtools asfivell as to the tool carriage. The said crossbars support a corresponding plate of relatively elastic and yielding material such as' vulcanized rubber, and are provided with coincident Windows, the centers of which lie in alignment with the axis of. the respectivetools, While in the elastic plates, opposite the center. oteach Window, a hole is formed with radial cuts extendingofrom the hole and staggered relatively to each other in accordance with the angulardisplacements ofl the gripping tools pivotally secured tothe central portion-of the corresponding pit-gripping-and-extractingV tool.v The distance between the said crossbars and theztubes is adjustable so as .to be-always slightly yin excess of the axial 'length of the fruits to be pitted;l f v g. device for yremoving tromI the. griping arms of the-said tools'any extracted pits that might still be sticking to 'saidar'ms The vdevice'essentiallycomprises one or more fixed plates supported from: the baseplate andinterposed between the cros'sbars and the tool carriage; In Athese. plates, large' holes' arel formed, With ,their centersA lying each on the extension: of the axis of thefcorresponding tool, and from the edge of'these holes radial grippingtools sothat their ends, inthe last phaseofthe 4return strolreof the tools, re-

move from Vthe gripping tools any pits still lsticking thereto.; 1

(m) A brush arrangedlwithin that portion of each `pit-grip`ping-and-extracting tool 1 that is fixed tothe carriage, the brush being secured to a rod that traverses the saidpor-y tion `axially and extends'past the rearend the tool, while a stop against which the flanged end of the rod strikes in the last phase of the return stroke of the carriage forces the rod to slide relatively to the tool in order to remove the brush therefrom and compel the brush to clean the gripping arms and to expel the pits still sticking to said arms in case the device spoken ofy inZshould not be present; v

(n) According to a modified construction, the tubes and windows spoken of at k and z' may be replaced by tubes open at both ends and suitably clamped between plates supported by lbrackets carried on the ,baseplate of the machine. These tubes have a circular section slightly larger than the cross section of the fruits so as to compel the fruits to arrange themselves with their major axis parallel to the axis of the tubes.

A little below the bottom end of each tube a cylindrical socket is arranged, the cross section ofwhich is equal to the cross section of the lrespective vtube and coaxial thereto. The various sockets are firmly connected to each other, and their bottom is provided with a perforated lug. The various lugs are traversed by a spindle carried from the baseplate of the machine in such a manner that the spindle supports can be made to oscillate by any suitable means through an angle, be-

tween two planes; in one of these planes lie all the axes of the tubes, in the other plane lie all the axes `of the pitegripping-and-exn Vtracting tools, and the two planes cross each 1 other at the axis of the spindle about which the sockets are oscillating. Midway of the front edge of each socket is fixed one end of a bent plate the other end of which is fixed to an arm fixedly secured to the vessel. The

center of the circle to which the plate is bent b lies on the axis of the spindle about which the sockets are adapted to oscillate. The object of this plate is to close the tubes when the sockets are tilted in` order to bring their axes in line with the axes of the pit-gripping-andextracting tools. When the sockets are in the said last position, the pitWgripping-and-extracting tools will perform their function, i. e., they will penetrate into the fruit, grip the pits, and extract the fruits from the sockets, and then extractthe pin in the manner that will be described below. After the fruits have been extracted from the sockets, the vessels are brought back into their former position and permit another piece offruit to en ter and replace the extracted one.

Further advantages asv well as working features will become obvious from the fol lowing description and from the drawings referred to, which illustrate, by way of example, an embodiment of the invention as applied to a machine designed to pit four pieces of fruit at a time. Of course it is understood that the machine may be designed also to pit a single piece of fruit or more or less than four pieces of fruit at a time.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved machine.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a view showing a tool of my machine to a larger scale. a

Figure et is a side view of the said tool, partly in section.

Figure 5 is a top view of one of the cutting members.

Figure 6 is a rear view thereof.

Figure 7 isa front view thereof.

Figures 8 and 9 are two cross sections along the lines D-E and F-G respectively in Figure 5.

Figure 10 is an end view of Fig. 5, looking from left to right. v

Figure 11 isy an elevation of the lower portion of a tube in which the fruits to be pitted are introduced, and shows the window form- :ed in the bottom end of the tube.

Figure 12 shows in a larger scale the crossba-rs having large` corresponding windows therein with the clamping of the elastic plate, in which a center hole with radial cuts is formed.

Figurel 13 is a sectional View along lines L-M of Figure 12.

Figure 14C shows a detail in elevation.

Figure 15 shows to larger scale, in perspective view and in vertical section, the upper end of a tube in which the fruits are introduced, as well as the hopper feeding the varif `a means for the positive removal of the extracted vpits from.-the pit extracting memers.

Figure 1-7 shows a modified construction of they means for receiving the fruits to be pitted and for holding the said fruits opposite the pit gripping and extracting means.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, 52 is the vmachine base consisting of a frame or a perforated plate and carried on suitable supports.

On brackets 16, carried on the two parallel p sides of the base 52, the ends of two parallel rods'15--15 are fixed, and on each rod 15 a sleeve 17 is adapted to slide. Y

The two sleeves 17-17 are connected to opposite ends of a plate 18. In order to minimize the friction between the rods 15 and the sleeves 17, grooves may be formed in the contacting surfaces of these parts for reception of balls or rollers. The sleeves 17-17 may bereplaced by any other contrivance capable of so supporting the plate 18 that this can be reciprocated like a carriage.

To vertical brackets 19 carried on the plate 18,.which henceforth Yis referred to as the plate carriage, the rear ends of the tubes 1 are terence fixed (Figure 4). These tubes form. part of the pit-grippingand-extracting tools, and

.the machine may comprise one or more of such tools according to the number of fruits Vwhich it is intended to pit at atilne.

' their ends-are adapted t'o be moved nearer to or away from each other like the shanksof a tong. 11 is a sleeve slidably mounted on th tube 1 fixed to the carriage 18.V

The rear shanks 4 .of the .various tongsy each traverse a correspondingV radialslot 8 formed 1n an annular flange 9y provided at the-.forward endl of the. sleeve 11.v The inner and cuter sides vofeachislot v8, against which vthe inner and outer sides of the rear shanlis .4 slidably bear are so'y shaped that at each longitudinal displacement Vof the sleeve 11'Y vrelatively to the tube 1 theA said sides of the rear Shanksy always touch the said sides of the slots 8, thus causing the tongs to be moved nearer toor away vfrom eachother.

The forward shank 5 of each tong is destined to be driveninto the fruits to Vmake radial ycuts therein. These cuts are made during the forward stroke of the tool, and by virtue of the radial arrangement of the tongs,

the latter, after the cutis made, can gripthe pits to extract them from thefruit. This takes placev during the return stroke of the In the accompanying drawings (Figures 3 y to a tool isshowniitted with three tongs pivotally mounted in three grooves formed in the tubefl. Of course the tool might also have two tongs only or more than three.

Each tong is built as follow-s.: 1

In a portion 6 zof the forward. shanks 5, the metal isV thinned down so as to form a cutting edge-6 on the inner side of the shank and a thickened portion on the opposite side.

` The kthickenedportion may be rounded off.

The cross section of this portion 6 ofthe shank 5, as seen from the side of Figure' 7 exhibits the form of a crescentfthe 'concavity 6 gradually vwith a curved line, andits side turned to the tool axis exhibits a concave surface 10 (Figures 5 and 7 having an ellip- 3, tical profile with pointed ends@ lThe rear `tion,while .the opposite'end constitutes the pointed yforward end 13 `of the tong. The

tongs.

y along the-center line on the back of the end :portionof .the tong.

`The cutting edge 7 is obtained bygiving to this last end portion, starting from the line D-Il in. Figure 5 and extendingup tothe'pointed end 13, aV triangular section with concave sides, substantially similar 4to the section shown to av larger scale in Figure 8. Of course the section in question tapers down from the line Dw-E' until-it reduces itself to ak point at-13. l l

In the axial bore of the tube lixed to the carri age 18 and having thetongs pivoted to it, va slidable rod 47 is'lodged extending past the .rear end of the tube 1 and terminating with anexpansion or, flange, which may consist of,

as shown by :way of example in Figure 4,

a washer, 50 vsecured by screw bolts 53 to a l shoulderfprovided at the rear endof-the rod.

lThe spiral spring 49, threaded on therod `between theiange 50 andthe rear en dof the tubel 1 tends to draw the rod 47 out of the tube fromy the rear. A flange 51, formed integrally with, or secured as a separate piece on the front end of the rod 47, Vnormally'bears` against a shoulder formed inside of the front -end of thetube and, prevents the rod 47 from lbeing forced out ofthe tube yfrom the rear. To the forward end of the rod 47 is secured in anyconvenient manner a brush 48 which,

whenfhe tool isat rest, is retained near. vthe y.forward end of the tube, whereas during the last phase of thev return stroke ofthe pitgripping-andfextracting tool thev brush is driven forward between the tongs owing toan abutment, consisting for insta-nce in a plate 46, Figure 14, again-st which the rear flange v50 of the rod 47 strikes, thus compressing the spring 49. VlrIhis deviceserves to clean the gripping shanksof the pitting tools when the plate 60 referred to hereinafter is not provided. It l may also serve to remove any pits thatfmay have remained stuck to the The carriage '18 is pivotally connected` at 2O to one or more eccentric rods 21. A single -such rodY is shown on the drawings iixedly of which is turned to the axis of theftool. transmitting or spgedvayng gears' This portion of: 5l goes over into the'portion `Onthe shaft w24 disc lcams V26 of suitable contour are likewise keyed toor formed integrally with the shaft.

On the tube V1 of each pitting toolis disposed, as alreadystated, the sleeve 11, adapt- -ed to Aslide on the tube 1. and move relatively tothe latter. AThe rear ends ofthe various sle'evfespass through holes formed in a cross bar 27.; astop 29, forinstance in the shape of a nut screwed on the rear end of 'the muff 111 end 13 merges vinto a cutting edge 7 provided prevents the ycross bar 27 fromv disengaging itself from the sleeves.

Vspring 12 wound around the sleeve 11 and acting by expansion between a flange 14 on the sleeve 11 and thev said cross bar 27.

In the drawings, which refer to a four pitting-tool machine, two cross bars 27 are shown, each of which serves to connect the sleeves 11 of the said tools in pairs. lt is obvious however that the machine may also have a single tool and a single cross bar 27, or any desiredunumber of tools, the sleeves of which may be connected in pairs in any desired number by any number of cross bars 27.

Rods 28, secured to the cross bars 27 at convenient points, bear with their opposite ends against the periphery of corresponding cams 26 mounted upon shaft 424. Between the carriage 18 and the cams 26 and eccentric 22-28 a cross bar 46 (Figures 1, 2, 14) is arranged edgewise. 1n this bar are formed a slot 56,

through which the eccentric rods 21 pass, as

well as the holes 54-54 throughwhich the rods 28 are guided. Suitable guiding means for the rods 28 may also be provided in the vicinity of the cams 26.

rlhe stationary cross bar 46 constitutes th member against which the rear flanges 5() of the rods 47 sliding in the tubes 1 strike in the final stage of the return stroke of the carriage 18 and tub-es 1. The cross bar 46 then, against the reaction of the spring 49, obliges the tubes 1 to slide axially relatively to the rods 47 and to bring the brushes 48 between the tongs of the pitting tool, with the result that the tongs are cleaned, and the pits still `sticking to the tongs are removed therefrom.

Spiral springs 30, one end of each of which is secured to the carriage 18 and the other to the cross bar 27, serve to ensure that the rear end of the rods 28 shall always bear against the periphery of the cams 26 and that consequently the cams 126 shall always effect with certainty the intermittent movement of the sleeves 11 relatively to the tubes 1 in order that the tongs of the pitting tools may move nearer to or away from each other at the proper time.

At the forward end of the base 52, tubes 81 with open bottoms, and preferably vertical, are arranged in line with each other.

VIn the drawings (Figure 1), the tubes 1 are shown as oval in section for the reception of fruits of essentially oval shapes, such as plums, but obviously any other section may be adopted for these tubes to suit the shape of the fruits to be dealt with.

rEhe tubes 31 are mounted in the machine in such a manner as to allow their ready removability, for replacement by other tubes suiting the shape of the fruits to be pitted.

At the top of the tubes 31, all of which are of same height, a plate is provided in which holes are formed opposite the topl openings of the tubes, the plate being connected to the tubes by means ofpieces 40 see detail Figure 15.v A relatively low front plate 41, a correspondingly higher rear plate and two side plates, one of which, 48, is illustrated, are connected with each other and with the edges of the plate 40 to form a hopper into which the fruits are filled in bulk. From this hopper the fruits are dropped into the tubes 81 either by hand or by means of a mechanical device not shown so as to build inside of each tube a column of superposed pieces of fruits. Thevhopper shape may differ from the shape shown and described.

Close to the bottomof each tube 81 (Figures 2 and 11) a window is formed in the tube side, the lower edge of the window being flush Vwith the tube bottom, and the size of the window being suicient to allow a single piece of fruit to pass easily through at a time. Flachv window center lies on the extension of the axis of the corresponding pitting tool.

lVithreferen'ce to the modiiied construction illustrated in Figure 417, the tubes 31 are open at both ends and circular in section so that the fruits are obliged to arrange themselves with their major v,axis parallel to the axis of the tube. rllhe tubes 31 are conveniently supported by plates resting on brackets (not shown) supported by the machine base4 52. @n spindles 66, resting on supports 67 carried by the base 52, are pivotally mounted the lugs 68I projecting past the bottom end of cylindrical sockets 69, coaxial with the tubes 31.Y A small gap is left between the top opening of the sockets 69 and the bottom opening of the tubes 81. r1`he pieces of fruit 55, plums, for instance, arrange themselves substantially as shown on the drawings, and the length of the sockets 69 is approximately equal to the length of the fruits to be pitted. A plate 70, bent to form an arc the center of which lies on the axis ofthe spindle 66 is fixed by one end to the front upper edge of 69, and by its other end to an arm 71 which is rigid with the socket 69.

Suitable mechanical means (not shown) are provided for simultaneously tilting all the cylindrical sockets 69 and bringing Athem at vthe rightmoment from the position shown in full lines corresponding to the fruit receiving position', into the position shown in dotted lines in which latter the pitting tools can drive into the pieces of fruit, seize the pits, extract the fruits from the sockets 69, and then perform the pit extracting operations. While being tilted, the plates slide against the bottom end of the tubes 81 .and thus prevent the fruits contained in the latter from dropping out. After the fruits have been extracted from the'sockets the sockets are re- 7 lli ist

Y ried on vthe base 52 insuchirarmannergthatrit.

the carriage 18, av crosstbjar3331s'slidahly-,carq

can be moved nearer toloraway 4from the tubes 31 and beiixed atthe desired distanc'eifrom.

the latter, yet always in parallelrelation to the saine. -Inathe crossbar 33, windows 342are formed'V withvthe center oieach window f1ying on the extension .ofthe/.axis of the corre-t sponding. pitting tools, ,on which extension also the center of acwindow 32ffof .the corre sponding.tube31lies.V vBetweenthefsaidcross bar 33 and a second crossbar'fxed :to the former onein any desired manner, :and pro vided with windows 36 of the samesize asand registering with the windows 34-ofthe tor-mer bar 33, a ,plate 37 vof relativelyfelastic.anaterial, such as .vulcanizedirubben is clamped In line with the centersaof each vpair ofwin-l dows 31h-36, a holef38 is formed intheplatc 37, andvfrom the periphery of'thisiholeextend, radial cuts 39.. VInFigure `12 of the ac# Y companying drawings, konly three such :radial cuts are shown, they being spaced 120 :apa-rt Yfrom each other .to suit thespaeing fof the three tongs-of thepittingitool. Asthefsaid cuts are so` disposed that they-looincidewvith the radial position ofthe. tongs pivotally;.ath tached to the .pitting tool, :these tongs in the forwardstroke of the carrageand tools Can pass-through the 'holes .of ethecplate `37 and swingen :their pivots 3,'and reach into `tubes 31 through the frespectivewindows .32.. The length of the-forward Astroke issoadJ-usted that the tongs stop ata certain distancerom the rear wall 'of thertube, thatyis 'Ito-say, from the wall opposite to lthat in which. the window 32 iscut. Between thecroesbar 33;,1carrying 'the elastic plate `37,andjthecarr1age '1S a cross bar yis arranged, this too beingvcarried on the machine base52. v'I he ,p1ate60 1s provided withA holes 62 comprlsing: as many evenly spaced radialvlips 461 asare Sthefgrips pingarms vupon the plttingtoolsj A .s

As diagrammaticallyshown-on Figure 16, the radial but are so arranged 'that theygget between each pair of grippingarms Bg. iffany pits 'have remained sticking tothe :sai'drarmsyinthe last;

phase of the baekwardstroke ofthe toois'th'e pits strike against the lips 61,-which prevent them from ollowingithe further baekfward movement of the tool, and, causethem to drop into an underlying basket or the like..

The working oifthe complete machine yis as follows:y

The fruits are filled in bulkintoithe hopF per Jfrom whence, either by handgor `mechanically, y ous tubesl 31 and to form therein `a-icolumn consisting of single pieces offruit ontop of each other. p Y I As the bottom edges of the :tube-windows 32 are flush with the tube,betteln, :faisingle piece of fruit' 5 5 -will lie in frontof @Mh-win-v dowin sucha position thatft can be extracted lips 61 do not `unite fat-thefcentery they are caused to fdrop into the vari# ieal distributor will new take 10a-re that another piece offfruit shall descend from the hopper into yeach tube 31 and replace the eli-1 traeted one,

Let us assume that when atrest themachine parts occupy .the 'positions in which they vare. shown in Figures l andV 2; the carriage '-18 and lthe pit-gripping-.andextraoting `toolsnamely are'at the end iof'ftheir return Stroke,y with the lgripping tongs open and the brnhes lyingl between the tongs; 1 f

Let us s now assume' that the machine .is started. v .The first quartcrturn of the eccen.l tric 23 and cams 26 will result in r a forwardmovement of the carriage 18 and,`ow11gto the `action ofthe springs 49, a returnvof the brushes 48 towards the inside 4of the tubes l of the pitting tools; a greaterforward movement'of the sleeves 11 disposed on the tubes :forward stroke, and bring the tongsinsiderof the tubes 31 through the tube Windows, 32E In this second phase ottheforward movement of the carriage 18, the tongs,low-ingfto the forward'impulses intermittently imparted to the sleeves 11 by the cams 26 and ycano rods27, are firstly moved slight-ly apart in order that they lmay penetrate `,finto the :fruits and make radial cuts around the pits,=and are iinal'ly movedclose to each other for thedouble purpose of gripping the pits and completing, Withftheir cutting edges 6', `the `radial cuts in the vfruit portion facing the windows,

'During .the remaining halt revolution of the eccentric 23 and cams 26, the lfollowing Operations are performed in succession.:

(l)l Extraction of the fruits *from the tubesy 31 through the windows-32; t(2) Extraction of the pits trom the fruits.;

(3) Dropping of the pits from Athe grip-` ping tongs; f f

(4), Cleaning of the ton s.

- The first operation is 'o tained `by so Ydesigning the contour lof the corresponding part of thecams26 that during the first phase of the return stroke, the cams act upon the, rods 28, and this also upon :the cross bars'27 andeleeves 111 in such a manner as to main. tain the tongs in closed conditions. `The pull exerted ori-the pits during the said return movement of .the `tools ohliges the -fruits to i and carried into contact with the elastic plate 37.

` The -second operation is obtained by so designing thecontour of the next corresponding part of the cams 26 that, after the fruits have come into contact with the said plate 37, the gripping tools can continue their backward movement in closed conditions. The result will 'be that, as the fruits cannot go farther than the plate 37 by which they are elastically retained, they will separate from their pits and freely drop into an underlying basketfor the like, whereasthe tongs with the pits therein will pass through the hole fg; 38 and radial cuts 39 of the plate 37. Y

'all

The third operation is obtained by so designing the contour of4 a further successive portion of the cams26 that the backward stroke speed imparted by these cams to the f sleeves ll is greater than the backward stroke speed imparted by the eccentric 23 to the carriage 18 and tothe pitting tools mounted thereon. Owing to this fact the gripping tongs are opened inasmuch as the sides of the windows 8-provided in the flange 9 of thetube l force thek rear shanks 4 of the gripping arms to approach each other, and their forward shanks 5 to move away from each other.

l All the gripping arms are free to move in the 'holes 62 of the plate and, on the backwards stroke of the tools, any pits that may have remained Sticking tothe gripping tools will strike against the lips 6l, which will detach ,them and make them drop through the basef -plate apertures 64 into the underlying basket or the like.

The fourth or tong-cleaning operation is performed during the last phase of the backward stroke forwhich the corresponding por- 4tion of the contour of the cams 26 is so designed that tlie sleeves ll move backward at the same speed as the tubes l on which they f are mounted.

In this last phase of the backward stroke f. the langedportions of the rods 47 encounter the stationary cross bar 46. As the rods 47 now can no long-er participate in the backward movement of the carriage 18 and tubes l, the further backward travel of the tubes l will cause the brushes 48 to project past the forward end of said tubes. The tongs, which 1n the meantime have remained in open condition, will rub against the brushes 48 and be cleaned. Should the above mentioned plate 60 with its radial lips 61 have failed to perform its cleaning function, any pits still remalning adherent to the tongs will be detached by the brushes 48. This arrangement may be omitted as not strictly necessary; it is employed especially when no plate 60 with' radial lips 61"may be employed also in connec-V Obviously the machine described and shown is susceptible of numerous modifica-V tions concerning its'form of construction and arrangement, any such modifications as may be thought out by persons skilled in the art still remaining within the scope of the inven tion described above and shown on the accompanying drawings only by way of example and illustration.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the natu-re'of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is z- 1. A fruit pitting machine comprising a pit extracting tool, means to operate said tool, means to predispose the fruit to be pitted in the path of said pit extracting tool, means also arranged `in the path of said tool and ahead of said second named means, said third named means being traversed by said tool, and forming a stop for unpittedfruits carried by said tool, means to detach, from said tool, pits carried-thereby and means carried by said tool to clean said tool.

2. A fruit pitting machine including a pit extracting tool, gripping members on said tool, a bore in said tool, a rod in said bore, said rod extending beyond the rear of said tool, a spring on said extending portion of said rod, a shoulder on the end of said rod, said spring bearing between the end of said tool and said shoulder, a stop on said rod limiting the motion of said rod by said spring, abrush fixed tothe forward end of said rod and normally positioned behind said gripping member, means to contact with the rear end of said rod to force the rod against the action of said springwhereby said brush is forced into engagement with said gripping members to clean them.

V3. A fruit pitting machine comprising a pit extracting tool,means to operate said tool, fruit receiving means comprising a tube open at both ends, a cylindrical socket arranged beneath and coaxially with said tube, said socket being pivotally mounted, a plate bent to the arc of a circle and secured to said socket, said plate closing the end of said tube'upon rotation of said socket, said socket swinging from alignment with said tube to alignment with the axis of said tool.

4. In a fruit pitting machine, a pit extracting tool comprising a stem, a sleeve on said stema plurality of pit gripping arms pivoted on said stem, said sleeve being connected to one end of each of said arms to move the same about their pivots upon relative motion of said sleeve and stem, means for reciprocating said stem, means for moving said sleeve in a predetermined manner relative to said stem Cil during said reciprocation, said last named in the fruit and subsequently are moved towards each other to complete radial cuts along the axis of the fruit and extending to the pit. H

5. In a fruit pitting machine, a pit extracting toolicomprising a stem, arms pivoted on said stem, means for reciprocating said stem, means for swinging said arms about said pivots, each of said arms being formed at their forward end with a curved concave inner surface, said inner surface having an elliptical contour vwith pointed forward and rear ends and a convex outer surface withl a cutting edge thereon, the forward end of said cutting edge terminating at said pointed forward end of said inner surface, a cutting edge on said arm, the rear end of said cutting edge on said convex surface joining the cutting edge on said arm; f y

6. ln a fruit pitting machine, a fruit pitting tool comprising a stem, arms pivoted on one end of said stem, a sleeve on said stem, a flange on said sleeve, radial windows in said flange, the rear end of each of said arms engaging in one of said'windows, the forward end of each arm being formed to lgrip and extract the pit from a fruit, means for imparting a reciprocating movement to said stem, means for moving said sleeve in a predetermined relation with respect to said stem during said reciprocating movements whereby the movements of said sleeve and stem are sometimes differential and sometimes concomitant.

7. A structure according to claim 6 in which said arms are equally spaced around said stem and are pivoted to swing radially on said.l

stem.

Signed at Milam Italy.

GIOVANNI FROVA. 

